Summary

Above the Clouds brings joy and hope through the wonder of small aircraft flight to children and teens who are seriously ill, disabled, underserved, or facing other serious adversity. ATC’s programs provide important relief for kids under tremendous stress and inspire disengaged youth to participate in making their dreams come true. The non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization accomplishes its mission through its three programs: Dream Flyers, Cadet Flyers, and Discovery Flyers.

Mission Statement

Above the Clouds brings joy and hope through the wonder of small aircraft flight to children and teens who are seriously ill, disabled, underserved, or facing other serious adversity. ATC’s programs provide important relief for kids under tremendous stress and inspire disengaged youth to participate in making their dreams come true. The non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization accomplishes its mission through its three programs: Dream Flyers, Cadet Flyers, and Discovery Flyers.

Revenue vs. Expense ($000s)

Expense Breakdown 2016 (%)

Expense Breakdown 2015 (%)

Expense Breakdown 2014 (%)

For more details regarding the organization's financial information, select the financial tab and review available comments.

Overview

Mission Statement

Above the Clouds brings joy and hope through the wonder of small aircraft flight to children and teens who are seriously ill, disabled, underserved, or facing other serious adversity. ATC’s programs provide important relief for kids under tremendous stress and inspire disengaged youth to participate in making their dreams come true. The non-profit, 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization accomplishes its mission through its three programs: Dream Flyers, Cadet Flyers, and Discovery Flyers.

Background Statement

Above the Clouds has been operating since January, 2013. We have created an exciting and vibrant charitable community that services children in the greater Boston Area and beyond. Above the Clouds was born out of the Executive Director's vision to marry a passion for aviation with a desire to help struggling youth (see Executive Directors personal statement to learn more.) Since it's inception, Above the Clouds has flown more than 300 children in its Dream, Discovery, and Cadet Flyers Programs. At Above the Clouds we recognize that the needs of children can be vast. Children who are referred to our programs are suffering from a wide array of adversity. Some children are chronically ill or developmentally challenged, others are economically disadvantaged, food insecure, homeless, or suffering from the loss of a parent. Above the Clouds has collected anecdotal evidence that reveals that involvement with Above the Clouds is a positively transformative experience, and an impact survey that is currently being conducted bears this out. Above the Clouds has received many local and national requests to expand our programming. As a result, in 2018 Above the Clouds will be launching a new site in NH.

Needs Statement

1. Raise an additional $10,000 to assist in caring for the Above the Clouds airplane.

2. Improve ATC's social media presence

3. Identify and sign up several dedicated Certified Flight Instructor for our Cadet Flyers Program

4. Expand our Leadership Council from 10 to 12 volunteers

5. Increase our fundraising initiatives from three to five events with proceeds used for our expansion to Lawrence Municipal Airport

CEO Statement

I founded Above the Clouds almost five years ago by marrying my passion for helping suffering children and teens with my passion for flying airplanes. Using the wonder of flight in small aircraft to bring joy and hope to kids in need is what ATC is all about. By bringing more than 50 volunteer pilots and others together in three interconnected programs, we lift at-risk teens up and onto a path toward a better future, and we provide much-needed joy for kids of all ages who face serious adversity in their lives. I earned my pilots license almost 13 years ago and have flown recreationally ever since while continuing to practice law in Boston. A few years after becoming a pilot, I began offering myself and my plane as an auction item for my charity clients’ fundraising events. At one such event, a donor “won” me, but insisted that instead of flying her I fly the kids served by the charity. I flew two plane-loads of inner-city kids, an experience which changed my life and inspired the founding of Above the Clouds. None of these kids had ever been outside the city limits of Boston, they had never been to an amusement park, they had little around them to inspire them and show them a different perspective on life’s possibilities, and they had few positive adult role models. Listening through my headset to shrieks of joy as we lifted off the ground is a sound I will never forget. I will also never forget one 12-year-old boy in particular, who said absolutely nothing at all during the entire ride. I later learned that he had refused all offers of help with tutoring and other services and was at great risk of dropping out of school. On the Monday after his flight, he initiated a conversation with a school guidance counselor, saying: “Pilot Gary said that in order to become a pilot kids have to try hard in school. I want to start doing that tutoring you said I should do.” Upon hearing this, I realized that pilots like me have the ability to change kids’ lives for the better just by doing what we enjoy – flying our planes.Developing programing that connects caring pilots with kids in need to provide joy, hope, and inspiration seemed like a great thing to do ... in my retirement when I had more time. I couldn’t wait. Soon after this experience, my niece was diagnosed with bone cancer, which resulted in her losing her leg at age 9. She wanted a flight in the co-pilots seat of my plane before the operation – she wanted to fly the plane. I too her up and let her “fly,” while my brother watched (teary-eyed) from the back seat, as his daughter giggled and smiled for 45 straight minutes, just days before she was to become an amputee. This, my brother said, was the first laughter from his daughter since the diagnosis. When she awoke from her operation, one of her first requests was to go flying again with Uncle Gary. That was it: I started business planning for Above the Clouds; I couldn’t wait for retirement.

In our fifth year of operation, Above the Clouds has become a labor of love for me and dozens of others. I retired early from my full-time partner role at the firm in order to be in a position to grow ATC so that we can reach more deserving kids.

Board Chair Statement

As a pediatric surgeon, I know better than most that a child heals from an illness at home, not in the hospital. However, for a patient with a chronic or terminal disease, they do not stop being a patient when they are discharged home. They are still sick and need care. Working at Boston Children’s Hospital for the past 6 years I have witnessed hundreds of incredible charities bring happiness to our patients while they are in the hospital; however, I have been disheartened by how few charities focus on the patient outside of the hospital setting. I was first drawn to Above the Clouds because it does just that. We strive to bring joy and happiness to our patients through small aviation ventures. Joy and hope are terrific forms of medicine, and at Above the Clouds that is exactly what we try to deliver every day. We first interact with some of our “Dream Flyers” while they are still in the hospital. We ask if they would like to be one of our co-pilots and, when they agree, we tell them that we will be waiting on them to get better. I have had countless parents come to me during their child’s Dream Flight and thank me for just giving their child something to look forward to when they leave the hospital. They state how their child was counting down the days to get out of the hospital just so they could become a pilot. Many of our Dream Flyers have a chronic or terminal disease. They have never felt in control of their own life. As we climb above the clouds with them we let them “take the wheel” and as they are flying the plane for the first time they actually feel in control.

Our Dream Flyer program would in and of itself be enough to recruit me to volunteer my time and money, but that is not all Above the Clouds does. Through our Discovery and Cadet Flyer Programs we work with at-risk teens to get them off the streets and show them that people do care. Most of these children have been told their entire lives that they will never amount to anything, and the only way to survive is to join a gang. We tell them that they can do anything they set their minds to, including flying a plane by themselves, something this Harvard professor has never dreamed of doing himself. We also teach these Flyers the importance of giving back to their communities. We require each Flyer to volunteer for one of our “Dream Flyer” days. Even though we only require them to volunteer for one Dream Flight we find many of them volunteer much more often because they find such joy in helping our dream fliers. As chairman of Above the Clouds I am proud of the service we provide to our community and I am excited to continue to grow these wonderful programs with your help.

Geographic Area Served

GREATER BOSTON REGION, MAThe Norwood Memorial Airport in Norwood MA is our home base. Teenagers travel from Boston and Brockton area for the Cadet Flyer Program. Dream Flyers have come from as far as NY, NH and RI, but most of the Dream Flyers live within a 60 mile radius of Norwood Airport.

Organization Categories

Youth Development - Youth Development Programs

Education -

Human Services - Family Services

Independent research has been conducted on this organization's theory of change or on the effectiveness of this organization's program(s)

Under Development

Programs

Cadet Flyers

The Cadet Flyers Program is a direct response to the growing number of young people who are either falling through the cracks at school or are involved with social service agencies due to poverty issues or difficult home situations. The drop-out rate in the Boston Public Schools, for example, is 16%. Schools and social service agencies have been searching, often without success, for that elusive motivational tool that will serve as the conduit to encourage these teens to apply themselves, stay in school, achieve and follow a path toward a better future. Above the Clouds steps in to provide that missing motivational tool — the “coolness” of flight and the allure of learning to fly an airplane. Above the Clouds uniquely provides this programing on a cost-free basis for teens in need.

Budget

$19,800.00

Category

Education, General/Other Extracurricular Activities

Population Served

At-Risk Populations

Program Short-Term Success

Our current plan is that the three women in our Cadet Flyers Program reach solo flight before graduation from High School.

Program Long-Term Success

The goal of the Cadet Flyers program is to help youth find a passion. While learning to fly is an incredible outcome, it is not the ultimate goal of the Cadet Flyers Program. By applying themselves to this incredibly difficult task, we aim to teach youth an important life lesson -- if you apply yourself, you can reach incredible heights. Many of our youth are inspired to pursue a career in aviation, and this is helpful to the industry which has a paucity of pilots and is an industry with a particular lack of ethnic and gender diversity.

Program Success Monitored By

We will measure success by learning that these young women are applying themselves at school and in the Cadet Flyers Program. Additionally, we will measure success by whether they are able to reach solo flight.

Examples of Program Success

One success story is of a Cadet Flyer who was able to pursue his passion after high school by studying aviation at the University of Missouri. He was among the first in his class to receive his Private Pilot License. Additionally, this young man became the president of the Women in Aviation program at University of Missouri. This pleased ATC in particular, as we have a mission of increasing the presence of women in aviation. All three of our current Cadet Flyers are young women.

Discovery Flyers

Discovery Flyers Program In this program, teenagers are introduced to aviation by Discovery Pilot mentors. Discovery Flyers have the opportunity to fly regularly with their Discovery Pilots. During these flights, the young Flyers are given the opportunity to fly the plane from the co-pilot’s seat. In addition, Discovery Flyers attend periodic aviation field trips and are encouraged to help out on Dream Flight Days.

Budget

$21,120.00

Category

Education, General/Other Student Services

Population Served

Adolescents Only (13-19 years) At-Risk Populations

Program Short-Term Success

Our goal is that 10-15% of the Discovery Flyers become so committed to aviation that they move into the Cadet Flyers Program. Those who stay with Discovery Flyers, our goal is that they develop a strong connection with their Discovery Pilots that leads to making good life choices, including pursuing higher education after graduation from High School.

Program Long-Term Success

In order to participate in the Discovery Flyers Program, youth need to demonstrate that they are working hard to achieve in school. Regular communication with Guidance Counselors assures this is the case. Most of the youth who have graduated from the Discovery Flyers Program have gone on to college.

Program Success Monitored By

ATC measures success by having regular conversations with school guidance counselors. In addition, ATC is conducting an Impact Study that measures changes in Developmental Assets.

Examples of Program Success

Five of the seven students who have graduated from the Discovery Flyers Program have gone on to college. The others have been gainfully employed.

Dream Flyers

The Dream Flyers Program is a special way to bring joy and hope to children who are facing all kinds of serious adversity. For seriously ill children, Above the Clouds delivers a unique kind of medicine — programming designed to build anticipation and excitement for a special, joyful experience flying (actually taking the controls!) in the co-pilot’s seat of a small airplane or helicopter. Young patients eagerly look forward to completing their hospital stay/treatment and receiving clearance from their medical team to take off on a Dream Flight. Similarly, children who are disabled, underprivileged, experiencing homelessness, suffering from the loss of a family member, or facing other serious adversity, benefit from a Dream Flight. Dream Flyers anticipate a joyful experience on Flight Day and feel hopeful just when things might seem hopeless.

Budget

$60,720.00

Category

Human Services, General/Other Children & Youth Services

Population Served

K-12 (5-19 years) People/Families of People with Health Conditions

Program Short-Term Success

The Dream Flight Day is joyful for all of those involved. The Dream Pilots are eager to come back and our volunteers (we have about 40), videographers and photographers enjoy the experience so much that they attend multiple Dream Flights each season. In addition to the joy of the Dream Flyer, the parents and relatives have an amazing time also. Several will have a chance to fly in the airplane with the Dream Flyer, and all enjoy the Flight Tower tour, the take off and landing and the post flight celebrations.

Program Long-Term Success

Joy is difficult to measure. We have been told that, for some of our Dream Flyers, the experience was transformative. Additionally, hospitals we are working with are impressed by our program and are eagerly referring their patients. We are conducting an Impact Study measuring Dream Flyer and family experiences. So far the study is revealing exceptional results. The study will be completed in January, 2018

Program Success Monitored By

We measure our success by the number of referrals we get for our program. In addition to hospital referrals, Dream Flyers often will suggest the program to other ill children. Additionally, our photo and video files of Dream Flight clearly document the joy of all those involved in Dream Flight Day.

Examples of Program Success

For one teenager, who has spent one week in the hospital every month of her life for the last 16 years, the experience of taking control of the airplane and "flying" was particularly moving because, as she reported, so much in her life is out of her control. Another child with Autism was exceptionally talkative when asked about his experience -- something his parents were impressed by. Still another child wore his new aviation jacket for a week after the flight despite warm summer temperatures, because he wanted to keep the experience alive.

CEO/Executive Director/Board Comments

Management

Gary has been a Labor and Employment attorney for 28 years. He is the former managing partner at Nixon Peabody, LLP's Boston Office. Recently he has stepped down from this position to focus more of his efforts on Above the Clouds. Gary has served boards of other charitable organizations (Smart from the Start, IMC International). Gary is a private pilot.

Co-CEO

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Co-CEO Term Start

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Co-CEO Email

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Former CEOs and Terms

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Senior Staff

Name

Title

Experience/Biography

Martha Oberstein

Director of Operations

Ms. Oberstein has an undergraduate degree from Vassar College and two graduate degrees from Columbia University. Prior to taking on the role of Chief Flight Coordinator, she was a Special Education teacher in the Brookline Public Schools for 17 years.

Short Term Solvency

Long Term Solvency

Fiscal Year

2016

2015

2014

Long-term Liabilities/Total Assets

0%

0%

0%

CEO/Executive Director/Board Comments

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Foundation Comments

Financial summary data in the charts and graphs above is per the organization's IRS Form 990s. Contributions from foundations and corporations are listed under individuals when the breakout was not available.

Please note, this organization changed its fiscal year in 2015 from a July 1 - June 30 fiscal year to a calendar year (Jan. 1 - Dec. 31). As such two 990 files are posted above for 2015, one reflecting 6 months and one reflecting a full year. The 6 month data is included in the charts and graphs above for FY15, covering July 1, 2015 - Dec. 31, 2015.

Documents

Other Documents

No Other Documents currently available.

Impact

The Impact tab is a section on the Giving Common added in October 2013; as such the majority of nonprofits have not yet had the chance to complete this voluntary section. The purpose of the Impact section is to ask five deceptively simple questions that require reflection and promote communication about what really matters – results. The goal is to encourage strategic thinking about how a nonprofit will achieve its goals. The following Impact questions are being completed by nonprofits slowly, thoughtfully and at the right time for their respective organizations to ensure the most accurate information possible.

1. What is your organization aiming to accomplish?

In the Dream Flyer program we strive to bring joy into the lives of children whose lives have been challenged by adversities like serious, chronic illness or disabilities. We have been informed by families that the Dream Flight experience has had a lasting, positive impact on the lives of our Dream Flyers. In the Cadet Flyer program, our aim is to provide a motivational tool (learning to fly) as a conduit to encourage at risk teens to apply themselves, stay in school, achieve, and follow a path toward a better future. We will measure our success by longitudinally studying the outcomes (graduation rate) for each of our Cadet Flyers. In the Discovery Flyers Program, teens fly with pilot mentors regularly. The goals of this program are identical to those of the Cadet Flyers Program.

2. What are your strategies for making this happen?

In the Dream Flyer program, we measure our success by having follow up discussions with each family after Dream Flight Day. In our Cadet Flyers and Discovery Flyers Programs, progress is monitored by maintaining ongoing conversations with school guidance counselors, teachers and social workers. An Impact Study (survey that measures level of developmental assets) is currently being conducted.

3. What are your organization’s capabilities for doing this?

Presently Above the Clouds has a full time employee who, as part of her position, does all of the research described above.

4. How will your organization know if you are making progress?

Above the Clouds has had tremendous progress with the Dream Flyer program and, because of the program's popularity with local hospitals and social service agencies, has flown nearly 300 youth in its four years of operation. The Cadet Flyers Program has taught seven youth to fly. Our Discovery Flyers Program (established 2016) has 20 youth who are flying regularly.

5. What have and haven’t you accomplished so far?

Above the Clouds has been operating since January, 2013. We have created an exciting and vibrant charitable community that services children in the greater Boston Area and beyond. Above the Clouds was born out of the Executive Director's vision to marry a passion for aviation with a desire to help struggling youth (see Executive Directors personal statement to learn more.) Since it's inception, Above the Clouds has flown more than 300 children in its Dream, Discovery, and Cadet Flyers Programs. At Above the Clouds we recognize that the needs of children can be vast. Children who are referred to our programs are suffering from a wide array of adversity. Some children are chronically ill or developmentally challenged, others are economically disadvantaged, food insecure, homeless, or suffering from the loss of a parent. Above the Clouds has collected anecdotal evidence that reveals that involvement with Above the Clouds is a positively transformative experience, and an impact survey that is currently being conducted bears this out. Above the Clouds has received many local and national requests to expand our programming. As a result, in 2017, Above the Clouds is launching a new "satellite" location in Lawrence, MA. Our long-term goal would be to expand this unique program to many more cities and towns.